Corporate green technology and grid-driven e-learning framework in developing economy

Abstract

Grid computing is a new paradigm of distributed computing that facilitates virtual collaboration and interaction through the sharing of both hardware and software resources within a virtual organisation. A grid is indeed an aggregate of software and hardware resources that are available for one another for the rendering of mutual non-trivial services. Grid computing has enormous capability that makes it an ideal complement for enhancing the capability of existing e-learning frameworks. The ordinary e-learning framework offers functionalities that are limited only to the exchange of data (i.e. both textual and multimedia) and as such the nature of interaction do not include academic collaboration and sharing of hardware resources. In this research, we developed a model of Grid Enabled E-learning framework for institutions of higher learning in Nigeria that will facilitate quality and complete knowledge delivery on the e-learning platform and multi- institutional resource sharing and collaboration. This definitely provides greater capabilities for ordinary e-learning frameworks. Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM) was used in the analysis and design stage of this research. The design of the system has a front-end Graphical User Interface (GUI) web-based application and a back-end Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). The front-end was designed using ASP.NET, using C# as a programming language while the back-end is designed using Microsoft Structured Query Language (SQL) Server 2005. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.